Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, MAY 12, 1928. HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION.

Manawatu Herald, Volume XLIX, Issue 3791, 12 May 1928, Page 2

Manawatu Herald SATURDAY, MAY 12, 1928. HOSPITAL ADMINISTRATION.

DESPITE the faet that all contributing authorities to the Palmer-; ston Hospital Board received a full explanatory circular setting out the reasons for the increased levies for capital and maintenance expenditure in connection with the district hospital, for the current year, a parrot cry of protest has been echoed by certain well-meaning hut ill-informed local .body representatives. If the represpnitativcs of local contributing' bodies had studied the details a lid reasons for the increased levies their bald objection would ha^ r e given place to commendation. The little world of some critics appears to consist of selfish interest. But there is the human element, which includes the indigent poor, the sick, and the afflicted. Hospitals and skilled treatment and nursing are necessary on their behalf. Indeed, the door of the hospital cannot bcclosed against rich or poor. The Almighty does not drop these institutions, and those connected with them, from the clouds. They have to be established and maintained by a system of rating spread over the whole country. The people govern the institutions by direct representation on the Boards. There are some who would seek to remove public control and substitute a system of appointment by local bodies, but no Government would be so foolish as to attempt such an undemocratic change. The hospitals exist for the people and will continue to be controlled by the people. It is the duty of the people to see to it that their representatives are qualified to undertake such responsible positions. So far as this hospital district is concerned the increased levies are justified. Indeed they are lower than the present necessity demands. Population is increasing, and with it the ratio of sickness and distress. Extra accommodation is required and this means extra nursing. In the past the has pital has been understaffed and nurses have been “sweated.” This will no longer be tolerated in the interests of both patients and nurses. The best that medical science (‘an give, both in method and appliances, must be supplied. The hospital cannot be maintained at a fixed figure and this should be recognised by contributing authoiities. The District Hospital Board suffers an injustice in connection with the Government subsidy which should be on a flat rate of £1 for £1 instead of from 12/- to 14/-. This injustice, however, is being attended -to. In the meantime the people throughout the Palmerston Hospital District can rest assured that the Board is carrying .on the administration of the institution in the very best interests of all concerned and in this connection stands second to none in the Dominion.